A hospital study of illegal abortion in Bolivia

Abstract

Illegal abortions are associated with high rates of maternal morbidity and mortality, and treatment of women hospitalized for illegal abortions draws upon scarce medical resources. Hence, in countries where induced abortions are illegal their adverse consequences constitute a serious public health problem. Abortion is only permitted in Bolivia when a woman’s physical health is threatened by pregnancy or when she has been the victim of rape or incest; otherwise it is illegal. However, such illegal abortions are commonplace. Indeed, in the 1970s the Bolivian Ministry of Public Health estimated that the treatment of complications arising from illegal abortions accounted for more than 60% of the country’s obstetric and gynecologic expenses...